A slip-and-fall accident can happen in the blink of an eye. However, the pain and suffering after such an incident can last for years. When consumers in California slip or trip while out shopping, they could suffer one or more of a variety of injuries. If this happens due to the negligence of the store owner, the victim likely has grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Anyone who slips will likely fall backward or sideways, and if he or she trips, the fall will typically be forward. For this reason, the type of fall accident will determine the injuries that might occur. While any kind of fall could cause a whiplash motion of the head and neck that might cause neck and back injuries, forward falls can cause fractures and other damage to the knees. Because people instinctively put out their hands or grab something like a railing to stop a fall, hand, wrist, arm and shoulder damage can follow both slip-and-trip accidents.
Backward and sideways falls often cause hip fractures, and some older people never recover from such injuries. Shoulder and rotator cuff injuries are common in forward and sideways falls, and herniated discs or compression fractures can occur from a whiplash injury. Few people might realize that a slip or trip in a store could result in a traumatic brain injury with life-changing consequences — all that is necessary is a wet spill or a randomly placed object and a hard surface against which the victim can strike his or her head.
While a victim of a slip-or-trip accident might think that no monetary judgment can eradicate the pain and suffering caused by the resulting injuries, any financial compensation can ease the burden. With the help of an experienced California personal injury attorney, a civil lawsuit against the store or other responsible party might be successful. A monetary award could cover medical expenses along with any funds necessary to pay for medical equipment and therapy that might help to ease pain and suffering and other emotional damages.